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It has been 12 days since the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over east Ukraine, and Tuesday, previous rumblings that the airborne incident would lead to further strain between the U.S. and Russia came to fruition.

Growth for the world’s largest exporter hit its slowest pace in three years as demand for Chinese products waned in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere, prompting the country’s leaders to encourage investment with stimulus measures.

A 0.2 percent dip in GDP at the end of 2011, which followed a drastic decline in the third quarter, has thrown Ireland back into recession, alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal and Greece, and begs the question of whether austerity is the answer to Europe’s economic woes.

In probably the least appropriate metaphor for relations between Israel and Palestine, Israel has allowed, for the first time in a year, Gazan flower companies to export 25,000 carnations to Europe in time for Valentine's Day, though the volume pales in comparison to previous annual exports of 60 million flowers.

ITT, the premier night vision equipment supplier to the US military, will pay $100 million in fines for violating the Arms Exports Control Act by sending sensitive information to China, Singapore and Britain without permission The U attorney in charge of the case said American soldiers were the "principal victims of ITT's crimes".